Will Daniel Briere represent a new heartbreak for Buffalo Sports?

From Wide Right to No Goal, through all the trials and tribulations that Buffalo fans have gone through over the years, the one thing that we have never gone through is seeing one of our former players make it to the big time for a new team.

Big time=Winning championships.

Now, I’m not talking about Don Beebe and Mike Lodish winning a Super Bowl. There’s a possibility that we will be seeing a new sort of heartbreak in the next month. And to think that heartbreak would be happening without the Sabres even playing a game.

I’m sure you all know that Daniel Briere is kicking ass in the NHL playoffs for the Flyers. Briere has scored 18 points in just 14 playoff games; helping Philly get within two wins of the Finals. If Philly moves past the Canadians and by some miracle they beat whoever comes out of the West, Briere will have a chance to win the MVP of the playoffs. Sorry, but that would be kind of a bitter/sad pill for me to swallow.

Looking back at the history of Buffalo sports, I can’t think of a prominent player that has left and really made a major impact for their new team. I’m talking championships, which is something that the city has never tasted.

For instance, take the Bills history. When OJ Simpson left Buffalo for San Francisco, he didn’t gain 2,000 yards. When Will Wolford, Howard Ballard and Nate Odomes left Buffalo via free agency, they didn’t really help their new teams out. Heck, what about Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith getting cut in 2000? Sorry, but did you really envy the Dolphins and Redskins after watching the old trio play there?

The same can be said about Doug Flutie, Drew Bledsoe, Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher and Willis McGahee leaving town. All of these players that I have mentioned were at one point regarded in such high esteem with the Buffalo Bills. However, after they left, I can honestly say I wasn’t jealous of the teams that picked them up. Mainly, because they didn’t really do much at their new destinations.

As for the Sabres, the only players I can really think of that made the most of their new digs were Tom Barrasso and Dominik Hasek. Both guys won championships with Detroit and Pittsburgh, but they really weren’t the focal points of those teams. Sorry, but playing with Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman are going to make your lives a lot easier. Plus, a lot of fans weren’t really sad to see both guys get traded. After that, it’s really slim pickings.

The French Connection didn’t do much when 2/3rds of them were traded. Pierre Turgeon and Dave Andreychuk didn’t make the Leafs or Islanders into championship teams. Pat LaFontaine played like half a year with the Rangers when he was traded. Alexander Mogilny didn’t score 76 goals in Vancouver. As much as we loved Michael Peca, Matt Barnaby, Chris Drury and Stu Barnes, their production in other cities didn’t really live up to their reputations in Buffalo.

In the end, as much heartbreak as the city of Buffalo have endured on the field, we really haven’t seen one of our own leave the Queen City and become the focal point in guiding a team to the championship. I don’t even think anyone has really come close besides Hasek and Barrasso. Sorry, but seeing Miro Satan and Rob Johnson winning championships doesn’t really make my skin crawl in a “What might have been” moment.

Briere, on the other hand, would really hit home if he was on a Stanley Cup Winning team. No one wanted to see this guy leave town and the Sabres have desperately missed his goal/clutch production. I’m sure a lot of fans are still steaming over the Sabres not being proactive in trying to sign Briere long term.

I know there will be a number of fans who will tell me to get over it. They will mention how Briere has battled injuries and Darcy Regier is genius who knows talent. Well, sorry, I’m a bitter man and I can’t help but think “what might have been” with this guy. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if the Sabres had a clutch goal scorer. You would be kidding yourself if you didn’t have any sort of emotion towards Briere hoisting the Stanley Cup. Good, bad, sad, angry, apathetic, discontent or whatever. I assure you, you would feel something.

Can you picture Briere holding up the Cup? Ugh. I’m sure if he’s holding the Cup above his head, he’ll be sure to extend his middle fingers towards Buffalo. Thanks again, Tom Golisano.